Year-long Interview
I was asked to answer a few questions about studying abroad for a year and my experience in London! Thought I would post it hear in case any of their questions overlap with anyone else’s!
Why did you choose to study abroad in London? I don’t think there was one specific reason I chose London, but I’ve always been drawn to the UK and British culture. I wanted to be in a big city, and after studying in France (with USAC in Lyon) I also knew that I wanted to avoid a language barrier if I was going to be spending an entire year abroad. What surprised you about London? I think the London that is depicted in films and shows is very different from what London is actually like. The city is so much bigger than I could’ve imagined, and every borough can feel like its own little town. London is still very much a European city despite the fact that it is often portrayed as the face of modernity. Why did you choose to study abroad a year? As I mentioned above, I had previously studied in Lyon, France for a summer term. It was one of the best experiences I’d ever had, and the 5 weeks I spent there flew by. Because of this, I knew how fast studying abroad could go by, and I wanted as much time as possible to be able to explore the city I was in as well as travel to other parts of Europe. How did you budget for a yearlong program? I had some money saved up, and my parents helped me with necessary expenses, but even still, London is an expensive city. When it came to travelling, I made sure to scout out the cheapest airline tickets and often opted for taking the bus or public transportation as much as possible to cut costs. I would say to try and get as much information as possible on housing since that was probably the biggest cost of being in London. Why do you believe studying abroad for a year is more beneficial than a single semester? For me, it came down to wanting to feel familiar in a new city. By the time my first semester was up, I finally felt like I had figured out how to navigate the city and being on my own in Europe, and I really appreciated the time I had in my second semester to have the confidence to travel a lot more and not be intimidated by living in such a huge city. What were some of your fears about studying abroad for a year? How did you overcome them while abroad? I think some of my fears included missing out on things happening back home / at school. It’s tough to feel like your friends and family are so far away, but it helps to know that the other people studying abroad with you feel the same way. How did you manage homesickness? I have never really been a homesick-prone person, but it definitely hit on days like my birthday, Mother’s Day, my sisters’ birthdays, etc. when I wasn’t able to see my family on days I normally would be able to. The best way I was able to feel a bit better was surrounding myself with really awesome people I’d met who helped me feel somewhat at home. Another way is just to gain some perspective. Go on a trip or go do an activity you’ve been wanting to do in order to remind yourself to be present and realise that there’s a reason why you chose to have this new experience. You only have a couple months! In what ways were you pushed out of your comfort zone and how did that help you grow as a person? When I arrived in London, I didn’t know a single person, so I spent a lot of time alone at first (which can be super scary for some people). I’m definitely an introvert who enjoys alone time, but even I found it difficult to spend so much time with myself. But overall, this really only led to me pushing myself to meet new people and find ways to get involved at my university to find people with similar interests. I think in general, the fact that I was on my own for the first time forced me to have a bit more confidence in facing new situations. Also, when facing new challenges, I learned how to think through situations rather than automatically going into panic mode. Most people are willing to help you as long as you ask! What did you learn about yourself during your time abroad? I learned that I have the capability to be independent and can adapt to change pretty easily. We all have the ability to overcome those fears that often intimidate us into becoming passive instead of active participants in our own lives. What was your favorite class and why? My favourite class was Arts Journalism. I had a great professor, and I was able to write about arts and culture in a city this is overflowing with art, theatre, film, architecture, music, and so much more! Did you live with a host family during your time abroad? If yes, how do you think that affected your experience? No, but I wish I had! One of my friends did, and it was cool to see how she was able to have better access to the community and area she was in just by automatically knowing a local. What advice do you have for students debating whether to study abroad for a year? Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into! Know what kind of person you are - if you are often homesick or don’t like a lot of change, then maybe a shorter amount of time is better! But if travelling and really experiencing a new culture for more than just a short trip is something that interests you, then go for it. Also, look into factors such as weather and location (if you prefer warm or cold weather, mountains or beach, etc.) to help determine where you’d most enjoy spending an extended amount of time.